Method and apparatus for geographic-based communication service

ABSTRACT

A geographic-based communications service system has a mobile unit for transmitting/receiving information, and access points connected to a network. The access points are arranged in a known geographic locations and transmit and receive information from the mobile unit. When one of the access points detects the presence of the mobile unit, it sends a signal to the network indicating the location of the mobile unit and the information requested by the mobile unit. Based on the signal received from the access point, the network communicates with information providers connected to the network and provides data to the mobile unit through the access point corresponding to the location of the mobile unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention generally relates to a geographic-basedcommunications service and, more particularly, is concerned with anapparatus and method for using known locations of wireless local areanetwork access points (APs) to service mobile users (MUs) of portablesmart devices (e.g., notebook, personal computers, PDA, etc.) who are inthe vicinity of these APs.

[0003] 2. Related Art

[0004] As technology improvements result in smaller, lighter and moreportable computing devices, a wide variety of new applications and userswill emerge. Users will not only operate such devices in stand alonemode, but with portability, users will also require the ability to sendand receive information through such devices at any location. The needto communicate will arise in circumstances where hard wired links maynot be readily available or practical or when the user of the portablecomputing device cannot be reached immediately. Moreover, a result ofuser mobility is that the precise location of the user is often variableor not determined. Conventional communications systems for computingdevices are not equipped to handle such communication scenarios.

[0005] Commercially available personal computers or other similardevices are generally equipped with industry standard interface portsfor driving a peripheral device such as a printer, a plotter, or amodem. While operating in an unknown, remote location not connected to anetwork, the portable personal computer user may be unaware of messageswaiting for him. In addition, conventionally, the user must wait untilreaching an office or other place with appropriate equipment to receivesuch messages and to transmit or print documents or other informationprepared by the user on his personal device.

[0006] By way of example and not limitation, one type of mobile user isthe traveller who passes through airports or similar mass transitcenters (e.g., subway commuters), uses ground transportation and staysin a hotel. In a typical scenario, a traveller may use a personalcomputer to perform calculations or prepare documents on a personalcomputing device during an airplane flight. Simultaneously, associatesmay leave messages for the traveller on a network. In conventionalsystems, the users's work product and messages destined for the user arenot available until the user arrives at a location where a wiredconnection to the user's network is available.

[0007] A further example of inefficiencies for the traveller concernstravel arrangements themselves. After arriving at an airport, thetraveller proceeds to a car rental desk or to some other transportationlocation. The traveller typically waits in line while the car rentalagency inquires about automobile preference, driver's license, method ofpayment, type of insurance required, etc. Having experienced some delay,the traveller is now on his way to a business location or hotel. Uponarriving at a hotel check-in/registration desk, the traveller oftenexperiences further delay waiting in line and providing the check-inclerk with routine information such as address, length of stay, type ofroom desired, method of payment, etc. In addition, the businesstraveller must call back to his office to check for telephone messages,thereby incurring further delays.

[0008] While accessing data bases for information about the traveller,his preferences and requirements can reduce such delays, a commoncharacteristic is that the pending arrival or presence of the travelleris not known to those who can act in advance. Further, conventionalsystems cannot generally locate a mobile user of a personal computingdevice and take advantage of that information to reduce the timerequired to complete routine activities or to provide the user optionsthat can enhance the user's productivity.

[0009] In another example, when a user dials a telephone number to anautomatic teller machine (ATM) locator, the user is prompted to key inhis area code and exchange prefix. The locator system then identifiesone or more ATMs within the user's area. However, the system requiresthe user to call in and cannot locate the user any more accurately thanthe telephone exchange area. Thus, the user could be advised of an ATMquite a physical distance from the user's location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In view of the above limitations of the related art an object ofthe invention is to provide a system in which a mobile user can begeographically located automatically.

[0011] It is another object of the invention to provide a system whichcan automatically locate a user with greater precision than is currentlyavailable.

[0012] A still further object of the invention is to provide a systemwhich integrates personal computing devices to networks such thatroutine tasks, such as travel routing can be accomplished moreefficiently.

[0013] A still further object of the invention is to provide a systemthat allows a user to employ a personal computing device moreeffectively and to utilize otherwise idle time, such as time spentwaiting at a car rental desk, a hotel registration desk and the like.

[0014] According to the invention, mobile users communicate withwireless local area networks within the range of an access point (AP).When a user passes an access point, the access point recognizes theuser, and the user's device can then retrieve data (telephone, E-mailmessages, etc.) waiting for the user and transmit information (E-mailmessages, print documents, requests for information from serviceproviders, etc.) that the user may have for transmission to a desiredrecipient. For instance, this process could occur as a user exits anairplane and is detected by an access point in an airport.

[0015] Accordingly, the present invention is a directed toward a methodand apparatus for using known locations of local area network APs(access points) to service mobile users who are in the vicinity of theseAPs. Such access points and mobile units typically communicate with eachother in a wireless manner. The method according to the inventionincludes the steps of: (a) detecting the presence of a mobile unit inthe vicinity of an access point and (b) transmitting/receivinginformation from the mobile unit to/from the network through the accesspoint.

[0016] According to the invention, information and services can beprovided by various providers connected to the network which are able torespond to unanticipated requests or which have acquired knowledge aboutthe user's requirements, preferences and habits over a period of timeand have extrapolated information from the user's past practices forprobable future actions consistent with these past actions.

[0017] For example, in one application, an access point receives a printjob from a user's mobile unit and sends it to a printer available at adestination point designated by the user so that the document is printedand available to the user upon his arrival at his destination. Inanother application according to the invention, upon detecting thearrival of a user's mobile unit at a destination, a message, forexample, an E-mail message, is sent to the user's rental car agency. Theagency can take appropriate actions so that the user's rental car isready and the user does not waste time waiting in line. Using a similarapproach, a user can be pre-registered at a hotel so that his room isready upon arrival.

[0018] Thus, according to the invention, a geographic-basedcommunications service system for mobile users includes a mobile unitfor transmitting and receiving information and a plurality of accesspoints connected to a network and arranged at known locations in ageographic region for transmitting the information to and receiving theinformation from said mobile unit. One of the access points detects thepresence of a mobile unit and sends a signal to the network. A pluralityof information providers are connected to the network. The networkaccesses the information providers based on the signal received from amobile unit via the access points to provide data to the mobile unit orto another entity on behalf of the user of the mobile unit. Inparticular, the known location of the access point detecting thepresence of the mobile unit defines the location of said mobile unit.Based on the location of the mobile unit as detected by the AP, aservice provider on the network can take actions appropriate to theuser's location, such as notifying a car rental agency of the user'spresence or notifying the user of canceled flights and adjustments tothe user's itinerary. Further according to the invention, clocks in theuser's mobile device and event schedules can be updated automatically tocorrespond to the present time in the time zone where the access pointdetecting the user's mobile unit is located.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019]FIG. 1 is a representation of the geographic-based communicationsservice system, according to the invention; and

[0020]FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a mobile unit interfacing with anaccess point, according to the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021]FIG. 1 shows a geographic-based communications service system,generally designated 1, according to the invention. The system includesa mobile unit (e.g., portable computer) 5, an AP (access point) 10, aninformation provider 20, a management information base (MIB) 25 and acentralized network 15. The information provider 20 will typically havea processor 21 and memory 22 with controlled access thereto. Typically,access point 10 and mobile unit 5 communicate in a wireless manner.Thus, mobile unit 5 and access point 10 would be equipped with anappropriate transmitter and receiver compatible in power and frequencyrange to establish such a wireless communication link. In addition,mobile unit 5 would also be equipped with a code generator whichgenerates an identification code that can be transmitted to andrecognized by the access point 10 or a system accessed through accesspoint 10. Such an identification code allows recognition of a userbefore providing access to system services, thereby providing a measureof security and a service billing mechanism.

[0022]FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an implementation of thecommunication between the mobile unit 5 and an access point 10. In step30, the access point 10 determines whether the mobile unit 5 is withinthe range of the access point 10. In steps 35 and 40, the access point10 scans the mobile unit 5 and determines whether the mobile unit I.D.(identity) matches a prestored I.D., and in step 45, the communicationbetween the mobile unit 5 and the access point 10 begins. Thecommunication between mobile unit 5 and access point 10 may includesending and receiving information which may include text, voice data andvideo data.

[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 2 a first step according to the inventionis establishing a connection between a mobile unit and an access point.Referring again to FIG. 1, the mobile unit 5 can send a beacon signalthat is picked up by one of the APs 10 located in a plurality oflocations within a geographic region. When the beacon signal is pickedup by a particular AP 10, the beacon signal is transmitted back to themanagement information base (MIB) 25 by AP 10. Since the location of theaccess point is defined and known by MIB 25, detection of the presenceof the mobile unit by an AP 10 allows MIB 25 to know exactly where themobile user is located at any given time. For example, the MIB couldstore the latitude, longitude, altitude, and other geographicinformation such as a local map of the area of each access point.

[0024] The precision available in this type of mapping scheme isdistinguished from that typically achieved in a cellular telephonesystem. In a cellular telephone system a user transmits a beacon signalat a fixed frequency. When the user moves from a first “cell” to asecond “cell”, the receiver located at the midpoint of the first cell nolonger picks up the beacon signal, and the receiver located at themidpoint of the second cell picks up the beacon signal. A cellulartelephone “handoff” in which the phone call is now under control of thesecond cell then takes place. It is only possible to locate the user toa relatively large area defined by the cells. There is no provision forlocating the user more precisely within the cell. Thus, a cellularsystem is limited in its ability to provide services requiring theprecise location of the user.

[0025] In the present invention, it is only necessary to provide themobile unit a method of determining its own location. It is notnecessary to provide tracking of the mobile unit's whereabouts. Forexample, upon establishing a connection with an AP 10, the mobile unit 5can transmit a message inquiring “Where is this AP?” Upon receiving theanswer that the AP 10 is located at the user's destination airport, themobile unit can then transmit an E-mail to a car rental agency or hotelto AP 10. AP 10 routes the message through a network connected to AP 10so that the user's car or hotel room is ready upon his arrival. Once themessage is provided to the AP, it is not necessary to continue to trackthe user.

[0026] In another approach according to the invention, one or moreselected APs 10 can be programmed to watch for the arrival of aparticular mobile unit (target mobile unit). Upon detecting the presenceof the target mobile unit, the AP 10 establishing the link with thetarget mobile unit sends a message directly to the rental car agency,hotel, etc. Since the message has been sent, other APs can then bedirected to cease watching for the target mobile unit.

[0027] Another feature according to the invention allows the user toaccess a service provider over a network connected through the accesspoint. For example, upon establishing its location, a mobile unit candirect an inquiry through the AP over the network connected to theuser's bank to locate the nearest ATM. Since the user's location isestablished with relative precision by the location of the AP, theservice provider can respond with a message such as “Straight ahead toexit 3, turn right and proceed two blocks.” The message is routed to theuser through the same AP.

[0028] According to the invention, service can be initiated by themobile unit's transmission of an inquiry requiring a response.Alternatively, service can be initiated by an element of the network,such as a service provider, when an AP 10 detects the presence of amobile unit. As an element of the network, the AP 10 could access itsmemory to initiate the service or transmit a message over the network toa service provider who initiates the appropriate service.

[0029] A system according to the invention would include a plurality ofAPs and mobile units and could be configured to allow all users accessto all service providers on a network or to allow selected users accessto selected service providers, depending on a service profile contractedfor by the user. For example, according to the invention, systemsoftware could be programmed to provide service gates in which a useridentification code is compared with a list of authorized codes foraccess to the particular service. In addition, users could contract forunlimited access for a fixed fee or for time billed access or somecombination thereof. Service usage records for billing and otherpurposes can be maintained in an automated database, so that users canbe billed by a single entity that maintains the network of APs orindividually by each service provider.

[0030] Assume, for example, that a user of the mobile unit 5 is locatedat an airport and that several APs 10 are located at the same airport.The mobile unit 5 is connected to an antenna 6, and the AP 10 isconnected to an antenna 8 which can both receive and transmit radiofrequency (RF) signals at designated transmit and receive frequencybands. RF signals over-the-air from AP 10 are received by the antenna 6,and sent to mobile unit 5.

[0031] The mobile unit 5 can send information to the AP 10, for example,in order to retrieve messages or obtain information needed by the useror to send messages and data to other users. These messages are enteredby the user through the mobile unit 5 or can be automatically generated,as in the previously described case of sending a message to a car rentalcompany signalling the user's arrival at the airport. During thisprocess, antenna 6 transmits the RF signal which is received by antenna8 and sent to AP 10.

[0032] In one embodiment, when a beacon signal output from the mobileunit 5 is detected and received by AP 10, information in the beaconsignal identifying the mobile unit is transmitted back to network 15.The information sent back to network 15 includes the identificationnumber of the mobile unit 5 and AP 10, thereby identifying both the userand his location to the network. Using this identification and locationdata, network 15 provides desired services (or arranges to providedesired services by accessing appropriate providers) and essentialinformation to the user of the mobile unit 5. Based on the type ofinformation required, network 15 may access one or more informationproviders 20 to provide the information or services to the user. One ormore information providers 20 are coupled to network 15 in aring-network configuration, a star-network configuration, or other typeof connection known in the art.

[0033] Other query/response approaches to link the mobile unit 5 and AP10 could also be employed within the scope of the invention. Forexample, AP 10 could scan its coverage area, thereby causing a mobileunit 5 in the area to generate a response using active or passivecircuitry. Such a response could be either a simple presence indicationcausing the AP 10 to transmit a further inquiry message requesting themobile unit's identification information. Alternatively, in response toan AP scan, the mobile 5 could transmit its identification dataimmediately. Since a mobile unit may be in an area serviced by an AP forsome time, either the AP or the mobile unit could be configured todetermine if any correspondence is necessary before engaging in furthercommunication.

[0034] In a simplified configuration according to the invention, themobile unit could be configured merely as a device to locate its userthrough the APs 10. In this case, a processor on the network 15 wouldthen take the appropriate action, such as sending an E-mail to theuser's car rental agency, upon detection of the user's presence by anAP.

[0035] Network 15 shown in FIG. 2 stores information in the MIB 25. MIB25 is a mechanism, such as a memory, which allows the persistent storageof information needed by network 15 to operate. Examples of suchinformation include a directory of all the elements (APs, mobile units,etc) in the network, the topology of the network, characteristics ofindividual network elements, characteristics of connection links,performance and trend statistics, and any information which is ofinterest in the operation of the network 15. For example, the MIB wouldstore the precise longitude, latitude, altitude and other geographicinformation pinpointing the location of each AP 10. Alternatively, anaccess point can be located by its proximity to another known location.For example, an access point location may be defined as a particularhotel known to be a particular address or having known latitude andlongitude coordinates. The extent of geographic area covered by anaccess point may be defined in the same ways.

[0036] In order to reduce message traffic over the network, all or partof MIB may be stored at one or more access points 10. In particular,static information which does not change, or changes relativelyinfrequently, can be stored in the AP 10. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, AP10 includes a memory 27 for storing at least a portion of the MIB. Forexample, memory 27 could store the location of the AP 10, the local map,local services and other information, such that routine requests forinformation from the mobile unit, such as “Where am I” requests need notbe serviced over the network, leaving more resources for other messagetraffic.

[0037] By way of example and not limitation, service and informationproviders 20 may include car rental agencies, hotels, restaurants,airline reservation centers, banks, taxi services, bus and trainreservation offices, printing services, on-line database services,message services, and E-mail providers, so that the user can receivemessages. The system according to the invention may also provide theuser access to updates on specific databases, such as a databasemaintained by the user's employer (e.g., a company rolodex) or theuser's own personal databases and any other service which can be used ina remote manner.

[0038] Any of the service and information providers 20 may maintain inmemory data files on members and subscribing merchants and have theability to extract data from past transactions for each of the users tofacilitate future plans. In this way, the service providers haveavailable the information to learn the past habits and preferences oftheir subscribers and provide corresponding services for newtransactions.

[0039] For example, upon learning that a business traveller isscheduling a trip to Austin, service and information providers 20consider the previous trips by the traveller develop a suggesteditinerary, and book travel, hotel, car and restaurant reservations. Theinformation providers 20 acquire knowledge about the habits of thetraveller over a period of time, store the information in a memory, andextrapolate information from past habits for probable future actionsconsistent with these past actions. For example, when arranging for arental car, the information stored in the service provider's memory fora particular subscriber may indicate that the subscriber typicallyrequests a four door intermediate size car. Referencing thisinformation, the service provider would now reserve a similar vehicle,unless otherwise instructed by the mobile unit.

[0040] A system according to the invention also has processing andmemory access to operate in an interactive or adaptable mode. Forexample, when the user of the mobile unit 5 arrives at the airport, hisidentity, as well as the fact that he is at the airport, is detected byAP 10 and transmitted to the network, for example using the beaconsignal emitted from his mobile unit 5, as previously described. One ormore service providers with access to transportation schedules, flightstatus information, hotel or automobile rental information, weatherinformation, ground maps or other information desired by the useremploys network 15 to send the user updated information about whether aconnecting flight has been delayed, alternative routings, where to go topick up a pre-specified rental car, directions to a preferred hotel andother types of information.

[0041] Since the location of the AP 10 communication with a mobile unit5 is known precisely, service and information provider 20 can employprocessors to provide only suitable information to the user and cantrack the user's last reported location. For example, since updatedinformation can be sent to the mobile unit 5, based on the location ofthe mobile unit 5, information that is pertinent only to the fact thatthe user of the mobile unit 5 is at the airport need be sent back to themobile unit 5 via the communication path between AP 10 and the mobileunit 5. Other information can be sent at other times.

[0042] For purposes of illustration, FIG. 1 shows one AP 10 and oneservice and information provider 20 connected to network 15. However,any number of such APs and service and information providers wouldtypically be connected to network 15 to service any number of mobileunits, the only limitations being physical ones, such as constraints onbandwidth.

[0043] In a variation of a system according to the invention, the mobileunit 5 initiates a request for information from the network 15. Forexample, the user of the mobile unit 5 finds the location of the nearestautomatic teller machine (ATM) by entering the request into the mobileunit 5, which will be received by the nearest AP 10. AP 10 forwards thisrequest for information to the network 15. Network 15 routes the requestto a service and information provider who obtains the requestedinformation transmits it back to mobile unit 5 through AP 10.

[0044] In another variation of a system according to the invention,network 15 is connected to other types of communications networks, suchas a public switched telephone network (PSTN), whereby the user of themobile unit 5 sends and receives information from/to the PSTN or othercommunication network through a service provider. The service providerwould employ processors and other apparatus to convert protocols anddata formats from those used on the network 15 to those compatible withthe PSTN or other communication network. For example, the user mayreceive facsimile information from a PSTN connected to the network 15.

[0045] Another feature according to the invention is the ability toadjust time clocks in the mobile unit to display and generate schedulesusing the correct time in the time zone where the user is located. Thisfeature could be accomplished by storing in the MIB a time zoneidentifying code for each access point and during communication betweenan access point and a mobile unit, notifying the mobile unit of thecorrect zone. Alternatively, the time zone information could be storedin the access point or the access point could be instructed to checkwith a time reference (e.g., Greenwich Mean Time) and calculate localtime. Alternatively, the time zone could be determined for the longitudeof the access point stored in the MIB. This determination could be madeeither by the information provider and transmitted as a time zonemessage to the mobile unit or could be determined in the mobile unitusing the longitude information of the access point.

[0046] Still another feature according to the invention is the abilityto provide customized massages based on the location of the activeaccess point or on the user's profile. For example, a user accessing anetwork through an access point in a hotel may be provided informationabout promotions offered by that hotel or other affiliated hotels,airlines, car rental agencies or other providers of goods and services.

[0047] The apparatus and method according to the invention and many ofits attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoingdescription and it will be apparent that various changes may be made inform, construction and arrangement of the parts thereof withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing allof its material advantages, the farm described here being merely apreferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:
 1. A geographic-based communications service system,comprising: a mobile unit, wherein said mobile unit is configured totransmit identification information indicating a user of the mobileunit; a network; one or more service providers coupled to the network;and a plurality of access points coupled to said network and arranged atknown locations in a geographic region, wherein each of said pluralityof access points is configured to detect said mobile unit, wherein,after detection of said mobile unit by a first access point in proximityto said mobile unit, information is transmitted to a first serviceprovider, said information including a known location of said firstaccess point and identification information indicating the user of themobile unit; wherein said first service provider is operable to performa service using said information, wherein said service is performedbased on the known location of said first access point and theidentification information indicating the user of the mobile unit. 2.The geographic-based communications service system of claim 1 , whereinsaid first access point transmits said information to the first serviceprovider, said information including the known location of said firstaccess point and the identification information indicating the user ofthe mobile unit.
 3. The geographic-based communications service systemof claim 2 , wherein one or more of said plurality of access points areprogrammable to detect presence of specified mobile units.
 4. Thegeographic-based communications service system of claim 1 , wherein saidfirst access point is operable to transmit said information to the firstservice provider, said information including the known location of saidfirst access point and the identification information indicating theuser of the mobile unit, said information further including a requestfor a service.
 5. The geographic-based communications service system ofclaim 1 , wherein said service is performed based on the known locationof said first access point and past transactions of the user of themobile unit.
 6. The geographic-based communications service system ofclaim 5 , wherein the past transactions comprise reservations previouslymade by the user.
 7. The geographic-based communications service systemof claim 5 , wherein the past transactions include one or more ofrequirements, preferences, and habits of the user.
 8. Thegeographic-based communications service system of claim 5 , wherein thepast transactions include information extrapolated from the user's pastpractices which indicates probable future actions consistent with thepast practices.
 9. The geographic-based communications service system ofclaim 1 , wherein the first service provider is a rental car agency,wherein, in response to said information, said rental car agency isoperable to begin processing a rental car transaction for the user ofthe mobile unit.
 10. The geographic-based communications service systemof claim 9 , wherein said rental car agency is operable to beginprocessing the rental car transaction to have a rental car ready forarrival of the user of the mobile unit.
 11. The geographic-basedcommunications service system of claim 9 , wherein the past transactionscomprise a rental car reservation with said rental car agency previouslymade by the user of the mobile unit.
 12. The geographic-basedcommunications service system of claim 1 , wherein the service provideris a hotel, wherein, in response to said information, said hotel isoperable to begin processing a room reservation for the user of themobile unit.
 13. The geographic-based communications service system ofclaim 12 , wherein said hotel is operable to begin processing the roomreservation to have a room ready for the user of the mobile unit. 14.The geographic-based communications service system of claim 12 , whereinthe past transactions comprise a hotel reservation with said hotelpreviously made by the user of the mobile unit.
 15. The geographic-basedcommunications service system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile unit is aportable computing device carried by the user.
 16. The geographic-basedcommunications service system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality ofaccess points are distributed within an airport.
 17. Thegeographic-based communications service system of claim 1 , wherein themobile unit and the first access point communicate in a wirelessfashion.
 18. A method of providing processing of rental car reservationsin a geographic-based network system, wherein the geographic-basednetwork system includes a plurality of access points (APs) located atknown geographic locations, the method comprising: a first access pointdetecting the presence of a mobile unit in the vicinity of one of saidAPs; providing a known location of said one of said APs to a rental caragency after said detecting; providing identification informationindicating a user of the mobile unit to the rental car agency after saiddetecting; and the rental car agency beginning processing of a rentalcar reservation of the user after the rental car agency receiving theidentification information and the known location of said one of saidAPs.
 19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the processing of the rentalcar reservation is substantially complete by the time the user arrivesat the rental car agency counter.
 20. The method of claim 18 , whereinthe user has previously made a rental care reservation with the rentalcar agency.
 21. The method of claim 18 , further comprising: programmingthe plurality of APs to detect the mobile unit.
 22. The method of claim21 , further comprising: upon detection of the mobile unit by said oneof said APs, other ones of the plurality of APs discontinuing detectingfor the mobile unit.
 23. The method of claim 18 , wherein the mobileunit is a portable computing device carried by the user.
 24. The methodof claim 18 , wherein the plurality of access points are distributedwithin an airport.
 25. The method of claim 18 , wherein the mobile unitand the first access point communicate in a wireless fashion.
 26. Amethod of providing processing of rental car reservations in ageographic-based network system, wherein the geographic-based networksystem includes a plurality of access points (APs) located at knowngeographic locations, the method comprising: a first access point of theplurality of access points detecting the presence of a mobile unit inthe vicinity of one of said APs; the first access point providing aknown location of said one of said APs to a rental car agency after saiddetecting; the first access point providing information regarding arental car reservation of the user of the mobile unit to the rental caragency after said detecting; and the rental car agency beginningprocessing of a rental car reservation of the user after the rental caragency receiving the reservation information and the known location ofsaid one of said APs.
 27. A method of providing processing of rental carreservations in a geographic-based network system, the methodcomprising: providing a known location of a mobile unit to a rental caragency; providing identification information indicating a user of themobile unit to the rental car agency; and the rental car agencybeginning processing of a rental car reservation of the user after therental car agency receiving the identification information and the knownlocation of the mobile unit.
 28. The method of claim 27 , wherein theprocessing of the rental car reservation is substantially complete bythe time the user arrives at the rental car agency counter.
 29. Ageographic-based network system which provides rental car reservationprocessing, the system comprising: a mobile unit, wherein the mobileunit is configured to transmit identification information of a user ofthe mobile unit; a network; a rental car agency coupled to the network;and a plurality of access points coupled to the network and arranged atknown locations in a geographic region, wherein each of the plurality ofaccess points is configured to detect said mobile unit, wherein, afterdetection of said mobile unit by a first access point in proximity tosaid mobile unit, information is transmitted to the rental car agency,said information including a known location of the first access pointand the identification information of the user of the mobile unit;wherein the rental car agency is operable to begin processing a rentalcar reservation of the user after the rental car agency receives theidentification information and the known location of the first accesspoint.
 30. The geographic-based network system of claim 29 , wherein theprocessing of the rental car reservation is substantially complete bythe time the user arrives at the rental car agency counter.
 31. Thegeographic-based network system of claim 29 , wherein the plurality ofaccess points are each programmable to detect a pre-determined mobileunit.
 32. The geographic-based network system of claim 31 , wherein,upon detection of the pre-determined mobile unit by the first accesspoint of the plurality of access points, other ones of the plurality ofaccess points discontinue detecting for the pre-determined mobile unit.33. The geographic-based network system of claim 29 , wherein the mobileunit is a portable computing device carried by the user.
 34. Thegeographic-based network system of claim 29 , wherein the plurality ofaccess points are distributed within an airport.
 35. Thegeographic-based network system of claim 29 , wherein the mobile unitand the first access point communicate in a wireless fashion.
 36. Ageographic-based network system which provides rental car reservationprocessing, the system comprising: a mobile unit, wherein the mobileunit is configured to transmit identification information of a user ofsaid mobile unit; a network; and a rental car agency coupled to thenetwork; wherein the rental car agency begins processing a rental carreservation of the user in response to the rental car agency receivingthe identification information and a known location of the mobile unit.37. The geographic-based network system of claim 36 , wherein theprocessing of the rental car reservation is substantially complete bythe time the user arrives at the rental car agency counter.
 38. Thegeographic-based network system of claim 36 , wherein the mobile unit isconfigured to transmit rental car reservation information of the user ofsaid mobile unit; wherein the rental car agency begins processing arental car reservation of the user in response to the rental car agencyreceiving the rental car reservation information and the known locationof the mobile unit.
 39. The geographic-based network system of claim 36, wherein the mobile unit is a portable computing device carried by theuser.
 40. A method of providing processing of hotel reservations in ageographic-based network system, wherein the geographic-based networksystem includes a plurality of access points (APs) located at knowngeographic locations, the method comprising: a first access pointdetecting the presence of a mobile unit in the vicinity of one of saidAPs; providing a known location of said one of said APs to a hotel inresponse to said detecting; providing identification informationindicating a user of the mobile unit to the hotel in response to saiddetecting; the hotel beginning processing of a hotel reservation of theuser in response to the hotel receiving the identification informationand the known location of said one of said APs.
 41. The method of claim40 , wherein the processing of the hotel reservation is substantiallycomplete by the time the user arrives at the hotel.
 42. The method ofclaim 40 , further comprising: programming the plurality of APs todetect the mobile unit.
 43. The method of claim 42 , further comprising:upon detection of the mobile unit by said one of said APs, other ones ofthe plurality of APs discontinuing detecting for the mobile unit. 44.The method of claim 40 , wherein the mobile unit is a portable computingdevice carried by the user.
 45. The method of claim 40 , wherein theplurality of access points are distributed within an airport.
 46. Themethod of claim 40 , wherein the mobile unit and the first access pointcommunicate in a wireless fashion.
 47. A method of providing processingof hotel reservations in a geographic-based network system, wherein thegeographic-based network system includes a plurality of access points(APs) located at known geographic locations, the method comprising: afirst access point detecting the presence of a mobile unit in thevicinity of one of said APs; the first access point providing a knownlocation of said one of said APs to a hotel in response to saiddetecting; the first access point providing hotel reservationinformation of a user of the mobile unit to the hotel in response tosaid detecting; the hotel beginning processing of a hotel reservation ofthe user in response to the hotel receiving the hotel reservationinformation and the known location of said one of said APs.
 48. A methodof providing processing of hotel reservations in a geographic-basednetwork system, the method comprising: providing a known location of amobile unit to a hotel; providing identification information indicatinga user of the mobile unit to the hotel; the hotel beginning processingof a hotel reservation of the user in response to the hotel receivingthe identification information and the known location of the mobileunit.
 49. The method of claim 48 , wherein the processing of the hotelreservation is substantially complete by the time the user arrives atthe hotel.
 50. A geographic-based network system which provides hotelreservation processing, the system comprising: a mobile unit, whereinthe mobile unit is configured to transmit identification of a user ofsaid mobile unit; a network; a hotel coupled to the network; and aplurality of access points coupled to the network and arranged at knownlocations in a geographic region, wherein each of the plurality ofaccess points is configured to detect said mobile unit, wherein, afterdetection of said mobile unit by a first access point in proximity tosaid mobile unit, information is transmitted to the hotel, saidinformation including a known location of the first access point andidentification information of the user of the mobile unit; wherein thehotel begins processing of a hotel reservation of the user in responseto the hotel receiving the identification information and the knownlocation of the first access point.
 51. The geographic-based networksystem of claim 50 , wherein the processing of the hotel reservation issubstantially complete by the time the user arrives at the hotel. 52.The geographic-based network system of claim 50 , wherein the pluralityof access points are each programmable to detect a pre-determined mobileunit.
 53. The geographic-based network system of claim 52 , wherein,upon detection of the pre-determined mobile unit by the first accesspoint of the plurality of access points, other ones of the plurality ofaccess points discontinue detecting for the pre-determined mobile unit.54. The geographic-based network system of claim 50 , wherein the mobileunit is a portable computing device carried by the user.
 55. Thegeographic-based network system of claim 50 , wherein the plurality ofaccess points are distributed within an airport.
 56. Thegeographic-based network system of claim 50 , wherein the mobile unitand the first access point communicate in a wireless fashion.
 57. Ageographic-based network system which provides hotel reservationprocessing, the system comprising: a mobile unit, wherein the mobileunit is configured to transmit identification of a user of said mobileunit; a network; and a hotel coupled to the network; wherein the hotelbegins processing of a hotel reservation of the user in response to thehotel receiving the identification information and a known location ofthe mobile unit.
 58. The geographic-based network system of claim 57 ,wherein the processing of the hotel reservation is substantiallycomplete by the time the user arrives at the hotel.